‘We love to see more Pacific candidates’: ACT leader advocates for local govt change

David Seymour is frustrated at the inefficiencies in local councils and a lack of political choices, pledging to provide voters with an alternative.

The ACT Party leader confirms that over 300 people have indicated interest in standing for the party in the upcoming local government elections.

Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Seymour cited the growing public dissatisfaction with local government inefficiencies and the limited political options available.

“I've been a member of Parliament for 10 years, and often, people have come to me from all over New Zealand, and they've had some sort of problem that's really annoyed them.”

For the first time, ACT is formally endorsing candidates in local elections, aiming to bring a new level of competition into what Seymour describes as a historically "beige" political landscape.

"I hope it will [cause a stir] because there's a lot of people frustrated with councils," he says.

Seymour argues that local elections often suffer from voter disengagement.

"People say to me, 'I got sent this little book by the council, and I don't know the names. There's a tiny amount of information about them'."

By running candidates under the ACT banner, Seymour believes voters will have clearer options.

"Whether you like ACT or hate ACT, you know what we stand for."

Listen to David Seymour's full interview below.

ACT's local government vision

Seymour says the core principles ACT-endorsed candidates will promote include lowering rates, reducing government waste, opposing anti-car policies, and ensuring councils serve all residents equally.

"We don’t like other people telling you what to do,” he says, referencing ACT’s opposition to replacing car parks with cycle lanes.

The ACT leader and some of his party caucus. Photo/David Seymour Facebook

He also criticised council policies that take ancestry into account in decision-making.

"A lot of council policies seem obsessed with figuring out what your rights are based on when your ancestors arrived. We just think that kind of discrimination is wrong."

A surge of interest

The response to ACT’s call for candidates has been significant.

"I thought we might get a few dozen souls.”

However, more than 300 individuals have already signed up through ACT's dedicated website.

Local government elections in New Zealand are held every three years, with the next elections scheduled for Saturday, 11 October 2025. Photo/Supplied

"Obviously, there's now a big process to assess and select quality candidates, but I suspect we will end up with a strong lineup."

When asked if ACT was open to Pacific candidates, Seymour confirmed the party’s support.

"We would love to see more Pacific candidates. The value of aspiration, trying to make a better life for your kids, is something ACT strongly shares with many Pacific communities."